Ratepayers forked out more than $11,000 on leadership courses and higher education for councillors in the last quarter an expense report has revealed.
From April 1 to June 30, council paid $8500 for mayor Mia Shaw to undertake leadership coaching and mentoring courses.
Deputy mayor Josh Gilligan was also reimbursed $2560.32 for professional development conferences and training during the same period.
According to the report, the reimbursement covered the renewal of Cr Gilligan’s Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) membership and the Harvard Kennedy School ’final module.’ The Harvard Kennedy School is a graduate public policy institution located in Massachusetts in the United States and offers a variety of courses related to political science and public administration.
This masthead asked Cr Shaw what the modules she participated in entailed and how they were intended to improve mayoral performance.
Cr Gilligan was also asked what his studies at the Harvard Kennedy School included and how they could be used to improve governance in Wyndham.
Acting chief executive Mark Rossiter, who answered Star Weekly’s questions on behalf of the councillors, said the listed expenses reflect invoices paid during the second quarter of the year, but the invoices relate to more than one quarter’s study.
Mr Rossiter also said councillors are internally encouraged to upskill to improve their ability to govern.
“Under the Councillor Expenses and Entitlements Policy, which is published on the Wyndham City Council website, all councillors are encouraged to participate in professional development courses and undertake study to assist them in performing their duties,” Mr Rossiter said.
“It is certainly in the public interest that they do so.
“All applications by councillors to attend these sessions or undertake relevant study are approved by the mayor and chief executive officer.
“The chief executive officer approves all applications by the mayor.
“All councillor expenses are reported to council’s audit and risk committee prior to them also being reported to council.
“The process is transparent, and all expenses referred to within your enquiry were scrutinised and approved in line with the required policies, within the relevant approved budget.”
